September 2007 Spotlight on Gamma Gamma

Gamma Gamma chapter, which represents the San Diego State University School of Nursing, adopts a different community service project each biennium. The 2006-2007 outreach effort, led by chapter president Anita Holt RN, MSN, benefited one of the clinics of the Family Health Centers of San Diego.

The Logan Heights Family Health Center located in Barrio Logan was first a San Diegueno Indian Rancheria. The clinic, which has a rich cultural history, now serves 600,000 individuals, of which 150,000 are children. The mission of FHCSD is to provide quality medical care to the underserved and underinsured. The clinic is currently undergoing renovation and expansion in order to better serve the needs of the community and is raising funds from both inside and outside the community.

Gamma Gamma chose this worthy organization because of the health-care connection and . Support from the chapter included funding of US$1000 which was doubled by the San Diego Padres Baseball Organization. As a thank you the organization arranged for the chapter’s name to appear on the large electronic sign in the stadium during a baseball game.

Gamma Gamma is committed to continuing their partnership with the Family Health Centers of San Diego through sponsorships of tables at the popular “Spirit of the Barrio” tamale luncheons. At the most recent luncheon, the chapter invited board members of the Philippino Nurses’ Organization and the San Diego Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses. According to Holt this was an important step as part of the chapter’s strategic plan to collaborate with ethnic nurse organizations.

In addition to supporting the FHCSD, Gamma Gamma adopted a family of six over the Christmas holiday and supplied baskets of toys, clothes and gift certificates for food. “All that we do is in the spirit of giving, which is one of the reasons I joined the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International,” said Holt.